Letter-Winged Kite - MEGA TICK!

Terrick Terrick National Park, Victoria

4.20am and my alarm was ringing - it was time to go a twitchin'! However, this wasn't an ordinary twitch, but a really really special event indeed. Today's target - one of Australia's most elusive and rarities raptors - the Letter-winged Kite.

On April 25th (Anzac Day) Melbourne-based birders Owen Lishmund and Dan Ashdown were travelling up through northern Victoria in an attempt to track down an Australian Bustard (that had been discovered by Simon Starr) in the area. This species is highly uncommon in Victoria, usually only found along the western most border in the region towards the Big Desert. On their way, they dropped in at Terrick Terrick National Park and momentarily stopped to photograph a rather obliging Black-shouldered Kite. On approach, the bird flew up and revealed (to the jaw dropped faces) that it was, in fact, a Letter-winged Kite. The news went out and by later that evening a small ensemble of keen birders had assembled at the same field and were marvelling at the magnificence of this mega-rarity.

​I, unfortunately, had to wait a full day until I had opportunity to chase this rarity (who's last confirmed sighting in Victoria was in the early 1980s). Not only would this be a crippling bird to get on my Victorian Bird List, but also a fantastic species to final add to my all important Australian Bird List. Suffice to say, I was very keen to connect with this incredible avian wonder.

​I eventually pulled up at Davis Rd in Terrick Terrick East at 7.15am, only a short period after sunrise. I had been held up, constantly checking every Black-shouldered Kite along my drive in case of wayward Letter-wings. There had been an explosion of mice across South Australia and parts of north-west Victoria so there were birds of prey everywhere. This was undoubtedly the reason for this Letter-winged turning up so far south of its usual range. The road was in poor shape due to the heavy rains, so I elected to park and walk the 1200 metres to the area known as The Meadow where the Letter-winged Kite had been seen the last two days.

​Soon I was joined by good mate Robert Shore (who had driven a notable 7 hours from his place in NSW) and Bruce Richardson in Lara. We reached the Meadow and jumped out into the grassy field. There were many Nankeen Kestrel, Australian Raven, even a Wedge-tailed Eagle and around half a dozen Black-shouldered Kite. Having a careful scan (unsuccessfully), we embarked on a trek towards the central Lignum area where allegedly the bird had been re-seen and photographed the previous morning.

​After 20 minutes, I turned around and immediately spotted an elanus kite perched on the fence we had just semi-followed into the field. Something about it caught my attention. Was this the bird? I called for the others attention and we gave it a good look up and down through the binoculars. It appeared to have a pronounced amount of black in front of the eye and very little behind it - or was that simply what we wanted to believe at this distance. So we crept closer.Soon we were close enough, and as I stared through the binoculars - I knew we had it! It was the Letter-winged Kite!! Within moments, the bird had taken to the sky falling resplendent into the cold morning air (6 degrees!). A second later and we could see it's renowned underwing pattern - what a sight indeed!

I rattled off a handful of photographs. Unfortunately nothing to National Geographic worthy - but identifiable all the same. Besides the aforementioned blackness around the eyes, the bird had paler legs, a soft grey across its head and nape and was certainly longer winged then the closely associating Black-shouldered Kites. It flew rather unlike its relatives but seemingly like a tern of gull, gliding and flapping in an elegant and smooth manner. Upon closer inspection, you could also make a retainment of some juvenile feathers, suggestion that it was an immature. The birds notable grey head also suggesting that it was a female as opposed to a younger male, which should have been even paler.

Letter-winged Kite

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Letter-winged Kite

​It performed a handful of laps over the thick lignum before taking up a perch on top of a high bush towards the road. Just in time as a car rolled passed, it was Simon Starr - highly respected and knowledgeable Australian bird guide, based in Victoria. He sprung out and we pointed out the bird. Suddenly, it took off again but once again only travelled a short way before perching on a fence beside the road. I ran up to join Simon - he was thrilled. And for 5 or so minutes we enjoyed this magnificent raptor before it decided to once again take off and this time, head for miles off west and eventually out-of-sight.

Simon and I jumped in his car and drove around for another 40 or so minutes in an attempt to relocate but our efforts proved unsuccessful. We presumed that the bird may have gone to roost, stereotypically being a nocturnal species. After bumping into a handful of birding friends, it was time to hit the road. I had my prize! Letter-winged Kite! Tick #420 for Victoria and #682 for Australia!